Endometriosis occurs when the tissue from inside the uterus is found outside the uterus. During a menstrual cycle, this tissue becomes activated and will irritate organs that it is touching or near causing pain, swelling, inflammation, and scarring. The endometrial implants can be on the ovary (causing ovarian pain and an abnormal appearing ovary). It can be on the bladder or bowel causing difficulty or pain with bowel movements or urination. It can be on the fallopian tubes

The birth control pill is the most common reversible form of birth control, but there are also many reasons the birth control pill is not right for everyone (whether you have medical conditions like high blood pressure, prior blood clots, or have a difficult time taking the pill every day). Even if the pill does not work for you, there are still many excellent options for birth control available. The most effective birth control methods are long acting reversible contraceptiv

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month (as designated by the United States Congress, who knew!). The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that opens into the vagina. I thought we might discuss cervical cancer screening. Generally, we think about the Pap test (Pap smear, or cervical cytology) first when we talk about cervical cancer screening. What is the Pap test? A Pap test is a screening test (a test done to detect potential health disorders or diseases in peop

In the United States, a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 8. Risk factors for breast cancer include: sex (female) and increased age. A family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate and pancreatic cancer are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Approximately 10 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers are associated with a positive family history. It is important to provide a detailed family history to our staff during your i

This is a more complex question than you might think. A routine breast self-exam was once recommended to be performed by all women every month. This was based on the idea that self-screening may help detect breast abnormalities sooner compared to only once a year screening with your doctor. However, recent data has suggested that routine breast self-exams may not help detect breast cancer or breast problems sooner and, surprisingly, may actually result in an increased risk

Research gives new information that changes how we care for our patients. Much has been learned about cervical cancer, where it comes from, how to test for it, and ways to prevent the disease. We used to recommend getting Pap smears every year. But we now know that cervical cancer takes many years to develop, and is typically associated with Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV. Since more than 90% of cervical cancers come from HPV, a sexually transmitted disease, less frequent scre

Uterine leiomyomas, fibroids, are benign growth of tissue in the uterus. Depending on the size and location of the fibroid, patients can have symptoms of: pain, pressure, heavy bleeding, and sometimes infertility. There are also times when a fibroid is found and the patient is experiencing no symptoms at all. When a patient comes into the office for fibroids, it is our goal to evaluate and explore your symptoms. Based on the location of the fibroid and your symptoms will dete

There are many women who would prefer just to skip “that time of the month.” Fortunately, for a majority of women, there are several options to either reduce and/or stop monthly menstrual periods some of which include pills. Your specific medical history as well as the current birth control pills you are taking should be reviewed by your doctor to see if this would be an option for you before making any changes to your current birth control pill regimen. It is important to

Such a good question! Like most things, it depends. A new patient visit for “just birth control” is so much more than just getting started on a medication. The visit should be seen as an opportunity to establish care with an OB/GYN who will review your personal medical history, review contraceptive options and provide education. For many new patients starting birth control a vaginal exam is not necessary. However, some women have questions or issues that may be best answe

Vaginal discharge can be normal, especially around the time of ovulation and during pregnancy. Diet, sexual activity, medication, and stress can also affect the volume and character of normal vaginal discharge. Normal discharge may also be yellowish, slightly foul smelling and can be associated with mild irritation. Itching, pain, burning, redness, or lesions are not normal and need to be evaluated. Abnormal vaginal discharge can be from sexually transmitted diseases, cervic

What you talk about with your doctor is private, and there are laws in North Carolina that help protect your privacy. We are not allowed to give information to anyone about pregnancy, birth control, sexual health including STD test results, substance abuse, or mental health under any circumstance without your written permission. You can sign a release form that allows us to give your parents health information and tests results, but that decision is up to you. We will only gi

Mammograms are performed as a screening test to detect breast cancer. Screening tests are performed because the test can detect a disease earlier and that earlier detection leads to better treatment outcomes. When you start having mammograms and how frequently depends on whether you are having any breast complaints, your family history, and your own values regarding the potential benefits and potential harms from screening. Harms from mammogram include having stress and anxie

Most gynecologic ultrasounds are pelvic ultrasounds. The pelvic ultrasound allows visualization of the female pelvic organs including the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Pelvic ultrasound can provide information about the size, location, and structure of pelvic masses but cannot provide a definite diagnosis of a specific disease. The ultrasound will help your doctor determine if you pain is related to infection, growth, masses, cysts, or other types of tumors wit

Vaginal bleeding after menopause isn't normal and should be evaluated. The least likely but most concerning reason for bleeding after menopause is cancer of the uterus, which is why your gynecologist wants you to call if you have any vaginal bleeding. However, the more common reasons for bleeding include thinning of the tissues lining the uterus or vagina, some medications, uterine polyps, and bleeding from the urinary tract or rectum. The cause of your bleeding may be entire

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are the most common bacterial infections in women. Approximately 50% of women will experience at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime. Typical urinary tract infection symptoms can consist of pain with urination, abnormal color or odor to urine, and abdominal pains. While other symptoms such as back pains and fevers can be seen with urinary tract infections, they are less common symptoms. While many symptoms can seem like a uri

The pap smear is a screening test for cancer of the cervix. The age to stop screening depends on how frequently you have been screened in the past and your specific medical situation. In general, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Cancer Society agree that women over age 65 who have had regular screening in the previous 10 years should stop cervical cancer screening as long as they haven’t had any serious pre-cancers (like CIN2 or CIN3) found i